Brick-machine



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' H. MARTIN.

BRICK MACHINE. No. 510,077. Patented Dec. 5, 1893.

wi/tmeooao/ Nr-TED STATES PATENT BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,07 '7, dated December 5, 1893.

Application filed February 21, 1893. Serial No. 463,177. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY MARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Lancaster, 1n the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Brick-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of brick-machines in which the clay is automatically compressed in the molds and said molds automatically discharged fromtne machine and the surplus clay struck therefrom. Heretofore the objection to this class of machines has been that, although the surplus clay has been struck from the molds as they were discharged from the machine, the clay remaining in the molds would puff or swell up, giving that side of the brick somewhat of a convex shape, and leaving the surface uneven and irregular. The object of this invention is to overcome that objection.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the various parts as hereinafter described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and is an improvement on a brick machine for which Letters Patent Nos. 300,096 and 346,931 were issued to me, reigggtively, on June 10, 1884, and August 10,

I attain my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the front of a brick machine, showing a gate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the gate, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of the same on line a:-0c, Fig. 2.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A-

indicates the front of a brick-machine; B, the gate which opens and closes the opening therein through which the molds M are inserted and discharged; and O the table that receives the molds as they are discharged.

The lower portion of the front face of gate B has a recess R formed therein, the upper end of which forms a square shoulder a. with said face. In this recess is located a blade D made of rubber or other flexible non-metallic material and fitting snugly therein. This blade is held in place by a retaining-plate E,

having slots e therein, which engage screws b, fixedin the front of the gate and on which it is clamped by nuts 6. Screws 1) also pass through vertical slots (1' in the upper edge of the blade, so that by loosening nuts 6 the blade and retaining-plate can be adjusted vertically. The striking edge 61 of the blade extends below the retaining plate, and when the blade is lowered or raised said plate is lowered or raised'with it, that it may reinforce the striking edge and hold it to its work. With rigid or metallic blades the clay is compressed in the molds so that after passing the gate said clay swells up above the sides of the molds, thereby rendering that side of the bricks rough and uneven and givingthem a bulging shape. It is found that a flexible blade, such as described, clears the molds as they ,pass beneath it without unduly compressing the clay therein and that said clay makes no after movement but remains level with the tops of the molds. At the same time.

the flexible blade makes a cleaner and smoother out than the rigid blade, and the struck-0E sides of the bricks conform in outline with the other sides thereof.

I do not limit myself to the use of a striking blade formed of rubber, as one made of leather or other similar flexible non-metallic material will also accomplish the object sought to be attained, althoughl prefer to use rubber; neither do I restrict myself to the particular construction of the blade or the manner of attaching the same to the gate.

My improvement involves a radical departure in the construction and principle of operation in the striking blades of brick machines, the invention consisting, broadly, in

a striking blade formed of rubber or leather, or any other similar flexible non-metallic substance or material.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.-

' 1. In a brick-machi ne, the combination, with the gate, of a flexible non-metallic blade, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

- 2. In abrick-machine,the combination, with the gate, of a flexible non-metallic blade adjustably secured thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a brick-machine, the combination,with I a gate having a recess in the lower edge thereof, of screw-bolts fixed therein, a flexible blade located in the recess and having vertical slots embracing the screw-bolt, a retaining-plate outside of the flexible blade having openings therein engaging the screw-bolts, and nuts clamping the retaining-plate on the screwbolts, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY MARTIN. Witnesses:

WM. R. GERHART, J AooB I'IALBACH. 

